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Protesters Say Trump's Acquittal in Impeachment Trial Is a 'Coverup'

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D'Andre Teeter holds a sign he made for a Feb. 5, 2020, protest organized by Nobody Is Above the Law, a coalition of progressive advocacy groups. He said, "We need to be out here larger and larger and night after night. I can't wait for the election." (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

Updated Thursday, 9:50 a.m.

After the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on both articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, protesters took to the streets around the Bay Area early Wednesday evening.

Rallies organized by Nobody Is Above the Law, a national coalition of progressive advocacy groups, were planned in San Francisco, Oakland and Emeryville, among other places.

At the cable car turnaround at the corner of Powell and Market streets in San Francisco, a group of about 100 people gathered, waving signs reading, "Reject the Coverup" and chanting, "The senate has failed, but the people will prevail."

Demonstrators gather at the corner of Powell and Market streets in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2020, to protest the Senate's acquittal of President Trump in a historic impeachment trial.
Demonstrators gather at the corner of Powell and Market streets in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2020, to protest the Senate's acquittal of President Trump in a historic impeachment trial. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

"We will keep up the pressure on Republican lawmakers who enabled Trump's corruption," said Ryan Thomas, press secretary for Stand Up America, one of the members of the coalition behind the protests.

Acquittal on the first article was 52-48, with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah becoming the only senator to cross party lines. Trump was cleared of the second charge on a straight party-line vote, 53-47.

Christine Diehl wears a Trump mask at a protest against the Senate's acquittal of President Trump on two impeachment charges.
Christine Diehl wears a Trump mask at a protest against the Senate's acquittal of President Trump on two impeachment charges. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

Christine Diehl, who wore a Trump face mask to the San Francisco rally, said, "As much as I disagree with Mitt Romney, I respect that he stuck with his principles."

Michael Kesselman hands out blindfolds at the Reject the Coverup protest at Powell and Market Streets in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2020. He said that justice should be blind but not blinded.
Michael Kesselman hands out blindfolds at the Reject the Coverup protest at Powell and Market Streets in San Francisco on Feb. 5, 2020. He said that justice should be blind but not blinded. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

Michael Kesselman handed out blindfolds, saying that justice should be blind but not blinded.

Other rallies were reportedly peaceful, like ones in San Rafael and Walnut Creek.

Nobody Is Above the Law's Thomas said that rallies were planned in 45 states and the District of Columbia.

The Trump campaign immediately issued a statement after the Senate vote, saying the president had been "totally vindicated."

Trump is only the third U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives. None has been removed from office by the Senate.

NPR contributed to this story.

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